The police have rearrested two of the eight awaiting-trial prisoners who escaped from the Mhlala Police station cells last Monday night. They were arrested at Mhlala settlement on Sunday.

According to the spokesperson of the police in the Mopani area, Capt Maano Sadike, the two prisoners who were rearrested on Sunday are Owe Ngoveni (37) and Muntu Power Ubisi (34).

Sadike said that the prisoners were kept in the exercising cell when they escaped. According to the police statement, the escaping prisoners used a hacksaw to cut open the roof of the cell before escaping. The other five prisoners with whom they escaped are Kagiso Dibakoane (28), Vusi Madonsela (31), Ntando Maphanga (35), Dumisani Shabalala (29) and Kgulufelo Monareng (34).

With the exception of Ngoveni, who was behind bars for allegedly being involved in an armed robbery some months ago, the rest of them were charged with murder. Vusi Madonsela was rearrested a few hours after escaping.

Those who were rearrested on Sunday were still to appear in court for escaping from lawful custody at the time of going to press. In the statement that was issued early this week, the police have praised the community for the assistance they had given the police in the process of re-arresting the runaway prisoners.

In the statement, the police had described the prisoners as extremely dangerous, saying people must not take the risk of apprehending the escapees in case they see them. They appealed to the people to contact any police station or phone them at Tel 0860 01 01 11.